SANTA CLARA, Calif.—Quarterback controversy? The 49ers don't have one at the moment. That's because Alex Smith currently isn't in the running.

Smith's post-concussion symptoms, which had disappeared in the days immediately after suffering the injury Nov. 11, returned over the weekend and he is still awaiting clearance by the team doctors.

"I'm kind of in the middle of it," Smith said of his post-concussion ordeal. After Monday night’s victory over the Chicago Bears, the 49ers have a shorter-than-normal-week to prepare for their game at New Orleans, and all signs—at least for now—point to Colin Kaepernick making his second straight start.

The 49ers used a high second-round draft pick on Kaepernick in 2011 because of his ability to keep plays alive and because he had the rifle arm to make big plays downfield. What he showed on Monday that came as a surprise were a beautiful touch and uncanny accuracy—two aspects that he rarely showed at Nevada and that were absent even earlier this year.

That had to have been an eye- opener for coach Jim Harbaugh and his coaches. It certainly was for the 49ers’ pass catchers. Tight end Vernon Davis, who has been Smith's most loyal supporter in recent years, raved about how Kaepernick delivered the ball through tight windows—something that the ever-cautious Smith never would attempt.

Davis had gone through a severe pass-catching drought over the previous four games.

Against the Bears, he caught a game-high six passes for 83 yards and a touchdown.